Mains



(No Model.)

J. F. MAINS. MAIL BAG- LOOK.

No. 413,624. I Patented Oct. 22, 1889.

N. PETERS Phnin-Ll'lhogF-lphwr. Wilmington, 0:0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' duce a bag-tie lock, designed particularly for IO which are closed by a cord or tie interlaced through their-top ends, which will be simple 7 top, the free ends of which extend out and part, having the needed pivot and rivet-holes To all whom it may concern:

following is a specification.

side of the lock, illustrating the label-holder JOHN F. MAINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO BRUCE CARRAND HARVEY M. LA FOLLETTE, OFSAME PLACE.

i MAlL-BAG LOCK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,624, dated October 22, 1889.

Application filed March 14, 1889. Serial No. 303,223. (No model) Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MAINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use! ful Improvements in Bag-Locks, of which the The object of my said invention is to prouse in connection with that class of mail-bags and cheap in its construction, positive in its actlon, and without any springs or other parts which-are liable to get out of order or break, thus overcoming well-known disadvantages of other locks now in use, and providing one WhlOh combinesextreme simplicity with great strength and durability, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, T111911. are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the use of my said invention, it being shown in connection with the top of a bag of the general character above referred to; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the lock with the top plate removed to show the interior mechan- 1sm';-Fig. 3, a perspective view of the under more clearly; Fig. 4, a central longitudinal section through the lock and a portion of the bag on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2, illustratlng the manner in which it is connected to said bag; and Fig. 5, a cross-section on the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the bag, B the casing of the lock, and O the label-holder.

The bag A is of the ordinary construction, having a tie-cord a interlaced through its alongside each other and pass through the lock, as'is common.

The lock-casing Bis of metal and of a simple form, consisting of an upper and. lower for the pivots, onwhich the working parts are mounted, and the rivets for securing the parts of thecasing together. Apertu res b are formed in the ends of the casing near each corner, through which the tie-cord a extends,

as shown. Its front end has a half-hinge b rivetedthereto, which engages with the halfhinge a, secured to the side of the bag, and thus insures that the bag will be drawn open I when the lock is drawn back on the cord. Near each front corner is pivoted a catch or dog B, with a serrated face adjacent to the cord, and between these dogs is mounted a sliding wedge B which is formed with a narrow front end arranged to slide in a notch in the front of the casing, and a slot b into which a stud b ext-ends from the bottom of the casing. Behind the rear end of said wedge, which end is formed with a straight face, is pivoted a cam-lock B of a three-sided formation, the corners being rounded, as

shown. The top end ofthe pivot of this cam is formed into an angular shank, and a key 12 adapted to fitthereon, is provided for operating it.

The label-holder'C is pivoted to the back side of the casing B, its free end being arranged to swing under an overhanging part 0, to the under side of which is riveted at one end the spring 0, having a central depression adapted to engage with a notch in the top surface of said end, and thus secure it in position. As will be noticed by an examination of Figs. 3 and 5, this end of the holder is slightly rounded, and said holder is thus allowed to be swung out in either direction when the label is to be put in position orchanged.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The lock being in the position for use,

as indicated in Fig. 1, and it being desired to close and lock the bag, the free ends of the cord are seized and drawn through the lock gagement with the cord, as indicated by said dotted lines, the straight face of said cam resting against the rear end of said wedge ICO and holding it in this position until force is applied by means of the key sufiicient to throw said cam back, which operation requires considerable force by reason of the corner of the cam being slightly farther from its center than the line of the bearing-edge. \Vhen the bag is to be opened, the key is used to throw the cam backinto the position shown in whole lines, when the wedge and dogs, being relieved of the strain, will naturally fall back and release the cord and permit the bag to be opened by simply drawing the lock back upon the cord with one hand and holding the opposite edge of the bag with the other, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1.

Having thus fully described my said in vention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bag-lock, the combination of the casing, two pivoted dogs therein with'their faces arranged adjacent to the tie-cord, a sliding wedge arranged between said dogs, and acam mounted to bear against a portion of said wedge for operating it, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bag-lock, the combination of the casing B, the dogs B, pivoted therein, the sliding wedge B and the cam B arranged behind said wedge, with the key for operating it, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the bag A, having the cord at interlaced through its top, the easing B, hinged to said bag, the free ends of said cord passing through apertures therein, the pivoted dogs B, with their faces adjacent to said cord, the sliding wedge B arranged between said dogs, and the cam-lock B behind said Wedge, all substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 8th day of March, A. D. 1889.

JOHN F. MAINS. [n s.]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, C. W. H. BROWN. 

